Dictation type mask with valve controlled inhalation and exhalation



April 8, 1958 H. WEBB 2,830,135

DICTATION TYPE MASK WITH VALVE CONTROLLED INHALATION AND EXHALATION 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1953 BNVENR RACE L, WE

ATTOREY Apmfi 8, H58 H. L. WEBB 9 9 DICTATION TYPE MASK WITH VALVECONTROLLED INHALATION AND EXHALATION Filed Dec. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet2 R Q T N; E V N ATTORNEY DHCTATIGN. TYPE MASK WETH VALVE CON- TRZCBLLED HNHALATIGN AND EXHALATKON Horace L. Webb, Fairfax, Va.

Apphcation December 21, 1953, Serial No. 400,325

4 Claims. (Cl. ].79188) This invention relates to an ambient soundexcluding mask device of the type used for recording speech inelectrical dictating machines as for court reporting.

During inhaling in the existing types of masks of the general charactermentioned, stale or spent air is always present about the face of thedictator or reporter and thus in the path which incoming air must travelso that such dictator or reporter must receive during the same and eachinhalation an initial quantity of stale or spent air preceding freshair.

it is the main object of my invention to provide a mask structure in theuse of which there is no inhaling of the objectionable stale or spentair and a structure which insures inhalation of fresh air practicallyexclusively.

Another aim is to accomplish the end stated through reception anddischarge of air in appropriate paths controlled by valve means operablyinfluenced by breathing.

A further object is to provide a structure having the advantages stated,having a casing, a separable closure for one end thereof embodyingswitch and fresh air control, an inhalation duct in separable relationwith the closure, and a face fitting mask or diaphragm member for theother end of the closure having valve means, preferably oppositelyopening, to control inhalation through the duct and exhalation throughthe casing exteriorly of the duct.

Still another object is to provide a construction which enables correctbreathing generally; While the instant improvements may be employedseparately, same may also be advantageously combined with the structureand attain the additional advantages of that disclosed in my applicationfor patent Serial No. 399,383, filed of even date herewith, entitledDictation Type Mask with Combined Switch and Air Control.

Various additional objects and advantages will be pointed out andotherwise become apparent from a consideration of the descriptionfollowing taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsillustrating an operative embodiment.

in said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking to the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly broken away looking to the right ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 44 of Fig. l

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 55of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the parts being primarily in sideelevation but with the casing partly broken away;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an electrical diagram of the switch and associated parts;

Fig. 9 is a detail partly in elevation and partly in section showing amodified mounting of the valve for the inhaling duct;

Fig. 10 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 9 but of another modifiedform; and

ice

Fig. 11 is a view showing the useof ordinary flap valves for aircontrol.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts throughout the different views and firstto the form of Figs. 1 to 7, the mask structure may generally take anyapproved form in carrying out my invention. As shown, it may employ acasing of requisite length comprising a body 10, a facefitting diaphragmor mask member 11 and a body closure 12 equipped with a knob 12 Saiddiaphragm is flexible to adapt itself for fitting over the mouth andnose and for intimate marginal contact with the face, being of rubber orthe equivalent and either permanently or removably secured to the body10. As shown the diaphragm is wedged into body lit and additionallysecured thereto by bolts 13.

Body it and closure 12 while shown as separably secured together as bypins 8 and bayonet slots 9 may be made in one piece and in either eventare preferably rigid and of metal, rubber, other plastic or anyequivalent.

An electrical switch device of any approved form generally designated Sand for instance of the construction disclosed in my said applicationfor patent filed of even date herewith, preferably moisture-proof,controls the usual operating circuit at contacts 15 in conductors orfeed wires 16 leading from a source of electricity through a microphoneM detachably carried by mask 11 to a dictating machine asdiagrammatically suggested in Fig. 8. Either in the wall of easing body10 or closure 12, one or any number of fresh air, breather or air demandholes 17 are provided and the casing body and closure are interiorlyhollow so that an air path exists through the holes 17, casing body itand diaphragm 11, to and from the mouth of the dictator or reporter.While the opening and closing of said holes 17 may be effectedindependently of switch S, my invention well lends itself to combinationtherewith.

Said switch S has a movable or operating member 24 which is slidablydepressible although the invention may be practiced where the switchoperator has an arcuate, universal or other movement.

Said switch device with its conducting parts suitably insulated ismounted by means of a fastening tube 19 and clamping nuts 20 threadedthereon in an opening of a supporting means 21 rigid or integral withand extending rearwardly from a closed front wall 22 of closure 12. Saidoperating member has a shank 24 extending slidably and exteriorlythrough an opening 24 in closure 12.

Shank 24- is carried bya valve means for holes 17 shown in the form ofan arcuate plate or plates 25 to whose convex surfaces are suitablycemented or otherwise fastened layers or sheets 25 of foam rubber,cloth, cellulose or the equivalent primarily for use as a gasket but asin my application filed of even date herewith is so constructed as to besound-insulating while preferably porous to the extent of permittinglimited passage of air therethrough. A coil spring 26 surrounds part ofthe switch operator and bears against the switch and plate 25 normallyurging the switch operator 24 upwardly or outwardly to the position ofFig. 5 wherein the valve means substantially close holes 17. Said Fig. 5shows the parts of switch S in the preferred circuit closing position.The arcuity of plates 25 will avoid undue turning of switch operator 24relative to the casing but any additional or positive means for thispurpose may also be employed.

Said closure i2. carries an inhalation duct 26 disposed centrally withincasing 10 and it is preferably made of the same material as the casingand closure and separably secured to such closure as by means ofinterengagement of bayonet slots 27 in an outwardly extending securingflange 28 at one end thereof with pins 29 on the closure. The

fresh air path is through the holes 17, when open, interior of closure12, duct 26, a valve device 30 into the face mask 11 and from the latterthe stale or spent air exhausts through a valve device 31 through thecasing 18 exteriorly of duct 26 and then seeps through any sufficientlyloose joint of the parts or a hole 32 in the casing or another adjacentpart as required.

Valve devices 30 and 31 may be similar and both may be detachablycarried by the face mask or diaphragm 11 or mounted in or on anysuitable part of the device. Such valve devices may be round bodies 32of rigid plastic or other material having air perforations 33 and acentral perforation 34 therethrough as well as an annular peripheralgroove 35. The flexible face mask 11 has openings of slightly lessdiameter than the bodies 32 at the location therefor so that the maskwill dilate about the openings through pressure of the bodies partlytherethrough and the face mask 11 about the openings will then contractor snap into grooves 35 and thus detachably mount the bodies. The freeend of duct 26 slidably and disengagingly fits over a portion of body 32as in Fig. 5. Said valve bodies carry flat, round, flexible rubber orother flap valves 32 and 32 at the valve devices 30 and 31,respectively, which are preferably removably carried by said bodies asthrough the medium of integral flexible shanks 36 passed throughperforations 34 and which shanks include integral heads 37 normallyexpanded but compressible for passage through said perforations 34.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the flap valves 32 and32 are disposed on different faces or sides of their respective bodies32 and normally said flap valves 32 and 32 are flat and in contact withsaid bodies. However, through breathing action said flap valvesrespectively marginally flex away from the bodies and expose theiropenings 33 and then flex toward the bodies and close their openings 33to the end that one can inhale only through duct 26, exhaling serving toclose flap valve 33, and one exhales exclusively through valve device 31past flap valve 33 into the casing 10 about duct 26 and thence throughany loose joint of the parts or hole 32.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention, and for instance as shown in Fig. 9, theinhalation control valve S which is the same as valve S may be carriedby the inhalation duct. shown at 26 and it additionally has a flange 34turned into the groove 35 the equivalent of that shown at 35. In thisform valve S simply projects removably into or occupies an opening 36 inthe face mask or diaphragm 11 like that at 11.

In Fig. 10 inhalation control valve S is carried by face mask ordiaphragm 11 in the same manner as the first form. The body 32corresponds to body 32 and additionally has a preferably integral flaredflange, tube or duct 37 which detachably telescopes or interfits with aduct 26* like that at 26, but preferably tapered at 33 for betterremovable centering and interfitting with flange 37. Obviously theflange or tube 37 and duct 26 may be of any relative length or extentdesired.

In Figure 11 the first-mentioned form is modified primarily with respectto the valve control. Here a face mask or diaphragm like that at 11 isidentified as 11. The inhalation and exhalation openings therein areshown at 39 and 40, respectively. The inhalation duct 26 is like thatemployed at 26, the free end extending removably into opening 39. At theface-engaging surface of mask 11 a flap valve 41 controls inhalation atopening 39 and the inhalation duct, while a flap valve 42 at the outersurface of mask 11 controls exhalation opening 40. Said flap valves 41and 42 are preferably of flexible rubber or In this form said duct 26functions like that ,1

4. equivalent, freely flexible under the action of breathing andaccording to the direction thereof to open and close the valves beinganchored to the face mask by a rivet, stitch or otherwise at 43. Saidflap valves 41 and 42 function like the valve devices 30 and 31respectively.

What is claimed is:

1. A sound receiver of the class described having a tubular casingprovided at one end with an exteriorly exposed face-engaging portion andassociated microphone and at the other end with a closure means open tothe atmosphere, an inhalation duct member in the casing open at one endthrough the closure means, said duct member extending from the closuremeans to said portion, the casing having an exhalation path therethroughoutside of said duct member, said duct member being displaceably carriedby said closure means, a valve means for said duct member and a valvemeans for said path, each valve means being normally urged to closedposition and operable through breathing to open and close, thefirst-mentioned valve means being carried by said portion and beinginterfitted with the adjacent end of said duct memher.

2. A sound receiver of the class described having a casing provided atone end with an exteriorly exposed face-engaging portion and associatedmicrophone and at the other end with closure means open to theatmosphere, an inhalation duct member in the casing on and extendingfrom said closure means to said portion, said inhalation duct memberbeing open through the closure means, and the device having anexhalation path through the casing outside of said duct, breathingcontrolled valve means for said duct means operable by the breathexteriorly of the receiver adjacent said portion, breathing controlledvalve means for said exhalation path operable by the breath exteriorlyof the receiver adjacent to said portion, both said valve means beingnormally urged to closed position, said duct means being displaceablycarried by said closure means, the first-mentioned valve means beingcarried by said portion and interfitted with said duct means, and one ofthe interfitted parts being tapered.

3. A sound receiver of the class described having a tubular casing openat both ends, an exteriorly exposed face-engaging diaphragm at one ofsaid ends, and closure means for the casing at its other end, saidclosure having an outwardly extending annular flange engaging thecasing, said closure being hollow at a portion thereof and communicatingwith the atmosphere, an inhalation duct member detachably connected tosaid flange, said duct member extending into the casing from saidclosure means to said diaphragm, the casing having an inhalation paththerethrough outside of said duct member.

4. A sound receiver according to claim 3 having a valve means for saidduct member and a valve means for said path, each valve means beingnormally urged to closed position and operable through breathing to openand close.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,508,310 Van Houte Sept. 9, 1924 2,465,958 Veneklasen Mar. 29, 19492,572,547 Webb Oct. 23, 1951 2,642,574 Eloranta June 23, 1953 2,754,377Junghans July 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 133,841 Austria June 26, 19331,026,069 France Apr. 23, 1953

